Memory sneaker

ABSTRACT

An athletic shoe comprising an insole made of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, or polyurethane enhanced with chemical agents to increase its viscosity and density.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application claims priority under 35 USC 119 (e) (1) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/002,676 filed May 23, 2014, of Elan Dyanov and Yakub Dyanov entitled, “Memory Sneaker,” which is incorporated herein by reference as though the same were set forth in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of active footwear, and more specifically to the field of foot inserts and shoe construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art has put forth several designs for foot inserts and shoe construction. Among these are:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,362 to Kristene D. Davis describes improved shoe inserts which are designed for placement within the toe regions of shoes to provide enhanced comfort to the shoe wearers. The inserts are preferably cut from initial pillow shaped bodies to give the custom designed inserts. The custom inserts are designed to substantially occupy the distal end of the shoe toe region and present a proximal toe engaging face that substantially spans the cross sectional dimension of the toe region. The inserts are preferably formed of heat sensitive, viscoelastic, polyurethane foam material.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,044 to Kevin Levin Gray describes a foot insert that provides protective cushioning to an area at the front of a wearer's foot including an area extending from the front tips of the toes to the metatarsal region of the ball portion of the foot. The foot insert includes a half sock formed from a stretchable fabric material and capable of extending over a toe portion up to about a midpoint of a length of a wearer's foot. A cushioning pad is attached to a lower sole portion of the half sock and is formed from a shape memory material that is capable of substantially permanently molding into a shape of a bottom portion and toes of the wearer's foot upon use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,767 to Charles Bergmans describes an improved shoe construction to be worn on a human foot includes a foot bag made of sheet like material as a unitary structure. The foot bag comprises an inner sole for underlying and conforming generally to at least the lower surfaces of the toes, sole and heel of the foot. The foot bag also includes an outer covering for overlying and conforming generally to the upper surfaces of the toes and the instep of the foot and to the side surfaces of the heel of the foot. The inner sole and lower edges of the outer covering meet at and are joined together at least a portion of the periphery of the inner sole. The shoe construction further includes a flexible outer sole member that has an upper foot bed surface for underlying and supporting and that conforms generally to the lower surfaces of the toes, sole and heel of the foot. A peripheral side wall having an inwardly facing surface extends upwardly and continuously from the foot bed surface of the sole member and is bonded to surfaces of the outer covering in the region of the juncture of the lower edges of the outer covering and the inner sole to lie closely adjacent and conceal the juncture.

None of these prior art references describe the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a line of athletic footwear that incorporates memory foam into a shoe's inner sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative functional side view showing a memory foam innersole that is insertable into an athletic shoe containing a supportive outer sole.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative functional side view showing a memory foam innersole inserted into an athletic shoe containing a supportive outer sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A masterfully engineered creation, the human foot has approximately twenty six bones and thirty three separate joints to promote movement in an infinite variety of ways, from flexing and flattening to pointing and springing. When walking, one's feet valiantly soak up one's body weight with each step. When jogging, one's feet absorb up to four times one's body weight. People with active and busy lives take about ten thousand strides each day or a lifetime equivalent of approximately four laps around the world. As a result, foot ailments are quite common. Women have roughly four times more trouble with their feet than men do, mostly due to the type of shoes they wear. While spike heels and sling backs cause a laundry list of ailments, even seemingly orthopedic type Doc Maarten or Birkenstock shoes still lead to hammer and claw toes, bunions and bumpy heel growths, bone spurs, boot bites and pump bumps.

Working a job that requires standing or walking for long hours or straining one's feet while exercising or playing sports results in foot pain and discomfort. When diagnosed with foot problems, patients often are instructed to keep their feet exposed to open air, unconstricted by shoes. It is impractical for most people to allow foot problems to deter them from demands of work, exercise or school. People with foot ailments typically try to tough it out, wearing their regular shoes as they can go about their daily business. Toughing it out results in exacerbated foot problems and also effects the rest of one's body, since improper weight distribution leads to painful joints in the legs, back and arms.

The present invention, hereinafter referred to as the Memory Sneaker, is a line of footwear that incorporates cushiony memory foam into a shoe's inner sole to facilitate a customized and comfortable fit each time the shoes are worn and provide ongoing therapeutic relief to sore feet and painful joints. Memory Sneakers are durable, heavy duty athletic shoes 10 with extra heavy cushioning 14 behind the ankle section of each shoe. Similarly padded, the tongue 16 in Memory Sneakers provide soft support for the top section of each foot. The present invention is produced in a wide variety of eye catching styles, from fun and funky colors for children and teenagers to more neutral colors like black and white for adults.

The unique component of the Memory Sneaker line is found in the insoles of the footwear. Insole 22 replaces the standard insole padding with memory foam, these shoes conform to the unique shape of the wearer's feet, enveloping them in padding that swaddles every curve and crevice of their feet. The memory foam, or polyurethane enhanced with chemical agents to increase its viscosity and density, is pressure sensitive and molds quickly to the shape of a body pressing against it, returning to its original shape once the pressure is removed. The memory foam reconfigures itself quickly when pressure is reapplied.

A user simply dons a Memory Sneaker and allows it to conform to their foot. When putting on the shoes again, the memory foam material retains the shape of the foot and provides the same comfort level. Uniquely designed and easy to use, the Memory Sneakers are ideal for active individuals with minor foot ailments, enabling them to attend to their daily tasks in a comfortable and pain free manner. By simply slipping on a Memory Sneaker as one does a common sneaker, a user returns to normal routines while ensuring pain free feet thanks to the extra support provided by a Memory Sneaker.

Memory Sneakers provide active individuals a source of comfort and support for those times when excessive or inefficient movement places painful pressure on the feet. Memory Sneakers are highly effective for anyone concerned with maintaining healthy feet and joints, both active younger individuals and older individuals who suffer daily from various ailments.

Although this invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto and various modifications which will become apparent to the person of ordinary skill in the art are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 

1. An athletic shoe comprising: a heavy duty athletic shoe having a foot section and an ankle section with extra heavy cushioning behind the ankle section of each shoe, further comprising an insole made of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, or polyurethane enhanced with chemical agents to increase its viscosity and density.
 2. The athletic shoe of claim 1 further comprising a tongue capable of providing soft support for the top section of each foot.
 3. The athletic show of claim 2, wherein the tongue comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam, or polyurethane enhanced with chemical agents to increase its viscosity and density.
 4. The athletic shoe of claim 1, produced in a wide variety of styles, from fun and funky colors for children and teenagers to more neutral colors like black and white for adults.
 5. The athletic shoe of claim 2, produced in a wide variety of styles, from fun and funky colors for children and teenagers to more neutral colors like black and white for adults.
 6. The athletic shoe of claim 3, produced in a wide variety of styles, from fun and funky colors for children and teenagers to more neutral colors like black and white for adults. 